Letter 135: If you call your one letter "many," well, I haven't received only this one.

If you call your one letter "many," well, I haven't received only this one. But you're being good-hearted in your lie -- you're admitting what you ought to have done. We're taking even more care of the boy now, since we feel we should contribute your share too. He's the best in his group -- partly, I think, because of his nature. But the tutor deserves no small credit: threatening, encouraging, rousing, suffering alongside him -- a man who endures a station below what he deserves, for your sake. As for what you report about Albanius, it was both delightful and unexpected. I'd been afraid he would choose silence. But I had reason for confidence if he chose to speak.

**To Achillius** (359/60) Even if you claim that your one letter counts as many, I did not receive only that one — though you are gracious in your lie, for you are acknowledging what you ought to have done. As for us, we are now taking even greater care of your boy, believing we must contribute your share on his behalf as well. He is the best in his class — perhaps owing to his natural ability, but no small credit belongs to his tutor, who threatens, encourages, rouses, and shares in the boy's toils: a man who endures a rank beneath his station for your sake. As for the news you send about Albanius, it is most welcome to me and beyond what I had hoped. I had feared he would choose silence, but I could take heart so long as he was willing to speak.

Ἀχιλλίῳ. (359/60) Ἀλλ’ εἰ τὴν μίαν ἐπιστολὴν φάσκεις πολλάς, οὐ ταύτην γε ἔλαβον μόνην, χρηστὸς δὲ εἶ ψευδόμενος· ὁμολογεῖς γὰρ ὃ πεποιηκέναι χρῆν. ἡμεῖς δὲ νῦν μᾶλλον ἐπιμελούμεθα τοῦ παιδίου νομίζοντες δεῖν καὶ τὸ σὸν εἰσφέρειν αὐτῷ. καὶ ἔστι τῆς συμμορίας ὁ κράτιστος, ἴσως μὲν καὶ διὸ τὴν φύσιν· οὐ μικρὸν δὲ καὶ ὁ παιδαγωγὸς ἀπειλῶν, παρακαλῶν, ἐπεγείρων, συνδιαταλαιπωρῶν, ἀνὴρ ἐλάττω τάξιν τῆς προσηκούσης σὴν χάριν ὑπομένων. ἃ δὲ ὑπὲρ Ἀλβανίου μηνύεις, καὶ ἥδιστά μοι καὶ οὐ κατ’ ἐλπίδας· ὡς ἔγωγ’ ἐφοβούμην μὴ σιγᾶν ἕλη- ται, θαρρεῖν δὲ εἶχον λέγειν ἐθέλοντος.